Orioles to recall first baseman Joe Mahoney to fill open roster spot

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

The Orioles will recall first baseman Joe Mahoney from Triple-A Norfolk to fill the roster spot created when they optioned pitcher Chris Tillman after the club’s 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, according to a club source.

Mahoney is expected to join the team Thursday for the Orioles’ series opener in Anaheim. He would become the seventh Orioles player to make his major league debut this season.

The 25-year-old is hitting .256 with five homers and 38 RBIs this season for the Tides. He’s hitting .306 in his past 10 games, including four multi-hit games in that span.

The Orioles’ sixth-round selection in 2007, Mahoney won the organization’s minor league player of the year award in 2010.

He has primarily played first base but has also played 34 games in the outfield, mostly in left field. He earned some playing time in left the past two spring trainings and made three starts in left for Norfolk this season.

Tillman was optioned to Double-A Bowie after Wednesday’s game so he could continue pitching throughout next week’s major league All-Star break. He is scheduled to pitch for the Baysox on Monday and then rejoin the Orioles on Sunday – optioned players must spend 10 days in the minors before returning – to pitch against the Detroit Tigers.

That allowed the Orioles to add an extra player for the four remaining games before the break. They weren't able to recall infielder Steve Tolleson because he was optioned a week ago, so he hasn't cleared his 10-day window.

Recalling Mahoney is an easy move for the Orioles because he is already on the 40-man roster.